How is it that slow airs are no where to be found in the web(not that I can find anyway)? Am a flute player and am looking for music/recordings of slow airs.
Mary, the dots for airs are around, but you have to dig to find them. Some airs are in the tune archives on this site, but you have to know the name of the tune you're looking for. It will then be listed under whatever time signature it was posted--jig, reel, waltz, etc. Look up Inisheer for an example.
Most trad poeple play airs freely, without a strict adherence to the time signature or the beat, so notating them into the dots loses much of the expressiveness. I'd say you're better off learning them by ear. But if you really want the dots, try to get a copy of "Traditional Slow Airs of Ireland," by Tomás O'Canainn (1995 Ossian Publications). It offers very playable settings of 118 airs and a brief but insightful intro that gives hints on ornamentation and phrasing for airs.
You say you're looking for "music/recordings" of slow airs. I think the second part is going to be your best bet.
I find slow airs are notoriously difficult to transcribe and even when the transcription is faithful, it's still lacking that certain something that makes slow airs so special when they're played right.
(I know that's true of all tunes, but it seems especially the case with slow airs)
So I'd definitely recommend lots of listening. Not just slow airs on instruments, either: listening to Sean Nòs singing will also give you a feel for it.
As for recordings to recommend... my mind's a blank.
Does anyone have some good recommendations? Point to some good slow airs albums listed in the "recordings" section or, if they're not listed, go ahead and post them.
I still have a copy of Armagh Piper's Club Fiddle
book which has 'Blind Mary' which is particularly
gorgeous on Flute IMHO but then I am spoilt!
There's oodles of them on the Chieftains recordings, '
but usualy stuck in the middle of other selections.
Worth looking up - notes are often found in TW
Tutors of those years. Great example here is
'The Coulan'.
My favorite is 'Ned of the Hill' or Eamon an Cnoic', but
its hard to get it just right, still I love it and
have some notes somwhere as well.
Something to remember about slow airs -- they're generally only truly effective (and affective!) when you've learned them from a singer. Find out what the words are and how the singer sings them, which will often explain some of the more obscure bits of phrasing...
I think your point is valid Zena, but I've been playing She Moved Through the Fair on GHB for 15 years and it's taken on a life of it's own as a solo instrumental number. I usually finish the set off with the March Of The King Of Laoise, which is another fantastic big Pipe tune.
I'm no expert, but I reckon Zina's hit the nail on the head. If you can have the words, or even a notion of the 'sound' of the words if you can't understand them, going through your head, you'll find the structure and timing of a slow air falls into place a lot easier. One that I like, which is a lovely song is Bruach na Carraige Báine, which I've got on Eamonn Cotter's album, but really only made sense for me when a lady came and sang it at a session I was at. Other slow tunes have a more regular structure, and are easier to learn simply as tunes, e.g. O'Carolan type tunes (S.F. above mentions Blind Mary, which can be played in a fairly free air-like manner and is a great tune), or tunes like the Lament for Owen Roe O'Neill that Dolores Keane played on one of her albums (I think it was There Was A Maid)....
Point taken, Pied, and of course you can take it far too far...the words to Women of Ireland, for instance, aren't much at all, but as an air it's simply gorgeous. Still, start with the words as a base and go from there, it'll give you a place to start from with the phrasing, and if anyone asks you what the air is about, you'll know..
wow!!! That's one of my faves also, that Tommy Peoples' An Feochan. A few years (1998) I played it solo as a lament (as *my* choice - I rebelled against what was in the script!... but they acquiesced to my fit of pique) at an Irish musical commemorative theatre production, here in London, about the failed 1798 uprising.
It appears simple but isn't really. It's very sparse, contemplative, haunting and sad. It was appropriate for that occassion, ie the aftermath of the rebellion, in which 100,000 people lost their lives (whatever proportion of the Irish population that was then.) And I think the audience liked it.
Nice recommendations above. I'm partial to a few more:
Anything by Seamus Ennis, particularly the archival recordings on "The Return from Fingal," remastered by Harry Bradshaw. Seamus is a strong influence on Liam O Flynn and Tim Britton, among other. All on Seamus's C Coyne set.
Mick O Brien, particularly his "May Morning Dew." Some at concert pitch, some flat-pitch.
Tim Britton on the Chulrua first disc. Beautiful air playing in the Ennis style.
Brian MacNamara, "The Piper's Chair." Nice low-pitch playing.
Curiously enough, Tony Mac Mahon (who would be the first to say that "there are not enough bog holes in Ireland to hold all the accordions in traditional music), who is a great player of airs, tutored by Ennis. There are slow airs on each of his discs, and the most recent solo, "Mac Mahon from Clare," has no less than five.
"The leaving of Limerick" (Irish title something like "Marvna Limini") - which is played by Martin Hayes on a very early CD or audiotape of his - is beautiful, and has an unusual high part. So is (again, apologies for the spelling) "Sliabh Gael Gua", of which a modern version is sung in Irish I THINK on an early Solas albumn.
No matter what instrument you play, it seems the key is to sing it in your head. I've been plowing through the Highland Fiddle tunes books (both volumes) and am amazed at the slow marches - retreats and the airs of Neil Gow and Abraham MacIntosh (among others). If you can't hear a channel singer doing the pieces - think the song as if your instrument is the voice. I play mostly a mandola (CGDa) or standard mandolin and the difference in the texture and expression is remarkable.
Check out some of the pipers / whistle players like Davy Spillane and Declan Masterson, also Na Connerys have a couple of slow airs on their album 'The Session'. There are many Manx slow airs which are fairly simple but allow for plenty of personal interpretation and variation. Email me I can point you in the right direction.
I know someone transribed and posted Tommy Peoples' "An Feochan" in Richard Moon's tune database. I think his or her enthusiasm and effort should be rewarded.
I love Seamus Egan's flute playing of "Dark Slender Boy" on his "A Week in January." It's a great track and you shouldn't miss it.
The book "Move Your Fingers - The Life and Music of Chris Langan" is a thoughtful and detailed work, containing diligently transcribed versions of Chris' settings--including a significant number of slow airs--, and lots of biographical stuff too. Anyone familiar with Toronto's Irish music scene would point to Chris (who died in 1992) as its principle proponent and inspiration, and several of the best players in town were Chris' students.
Just wondering if anyone could tell me if there is a recording of the air Eire. Give us a comment and it would be appreciated. The first line of the air is;
Slow Airs
Slow Airs
How is it that slow airs are no where to be found in the web(not that I can find anyway)? Am a flute player and am looking for music/recordings of slow airs.
# Posted on September 14th 2003 by Mary Callanan
Re: Slow Airs
Mary, the dots for airs are around, but you have to dig to find them. Some airs are in the tune archives on this site, but you have to know the name of the tune you're looking for. It will then be listed under whatever time signature it was posted--jig, reel, waltz, etc. Look up Inisheer for an example.
Most trad poeple play airs freely, without a strict adherence to the time signature or the beat, so notating them into the dots loses much of the expressiveness. I'd say you're better off learning them by ear. But if you really want the dots, try to get a copy of "Traditional Slow Airs of Ireland," by Tomás O'Canainn (1995 Ossian Publications). It offers very playable settings of 118 airs and a brief but insightful intro that gives hints on ornamentation and phrasing for airs.
# Posted on September 14th 2003 by Will Harmon
Re: Slow Airs
You say you're looking for "music/recordings" of slow airs. I think the second part is going to be your best bet.
I find slow airs are notoriously difficult to transcribe and even when the transcription is faithful, it's still lacking that certain something that makes slow airs so special when they're played right.
(I know that's true of all tunes, but it seems especially the case with slow airs)
So I'd definitely recommend lots of listening. Not just slow airs on instruments, either: listening to Sean Nòs singing will also give you a feel for it.
As for recordings to recommend... my mind's a blank.
Does anyone have some good recommendations? Point to some good slow airs albums listed in the "recordings" section or, if they're not listed, go ahead and post them.
# Posted on September 14th 2003 by Jeremy
Re: Slow Airs
In that case Jememy - thankthee!
I still have a copy of Armagh Piper's Club Fiddle
book which has 'Blind Mary' which is particularly
gorgeous on Flute IMHO but then I am spoilt!
There's oodles of them on the Chieftains recordings, '
but usualy stuck in the middle of other selections.
Worth looking up - notes are often found in TW
Tutors of those years. Great example here is
'The Coulan'.
My favorite is 'Ned of the Hill' or Eamon an Cnoic', but
its hard to get it just right, still I love it and
have some notes somwhere as well.
It ain't no list but its a start...
# Posted on September 14th 2003 by sorefingers
Re: Slow Airs
Mary, try here: http://www.leeds.ac.uk/music/Info/RRTuneBk/Alltunes/Alltunes.type.html#Slow%20air . There are lots of other great tunes of various types there also.
# Posted on September 14th 2003 by Juizgax
Re: Slow Airs
Something to remember about slow airs -- they're generally only truly effective (and affective!) when you've learned them from a singer. Find out what the words are and how the singer sings them, which will often explain some of the more obscure bits of phrasing...
# Posted on September 14th 2003 by Zina Lee
Re: Slow Airs
I think your point is valid Zena, but I've been playing She Moved Through the Fair on GHB for 15 years and it's taken on a life of it's own as a solo instrumental number. I usually finish the set off with the March Of The King Of Laoise, which is another fantastic big Pipe tune.
PP
# Posted on September 14th 2003 by Pied Piper
Re: Slow Airs
I'm no expert, but I reckon Zina's hit the nail on the head. If you can have the words, or even a notion of the 'sound' of the words if you can't understand them, going through your head, you'll find the structure and timing of a slow air falls into place a lot easier. One that I like, which is a lovely song is Bruach na Carraige Báine, which I've got on Eamonn Cotter's album, but really only made sense for me when a lady came and sang it at a session I was at. Other slow tunes have a more regular structure, and are easier to learn simply as tunes, e.g. O'Carolan type tunes (S.F. above mentions Blind Mary, which can be played in a fairly free air-like manner and is a great tune), or tunes like the Lament for Owen Roe O'Neill that Dolores Keane played on one of her albums (I think it was There Was A Maid)....
# Posted on September 14th 2003 by Ottery
Re: Slow Airs
Mary, a few slow airs on cd that I know about:
Port na bPucai - Martin Hayes in "Live in Seattle" (CICD 144)
The Quiet Glen - Tommy Peoples in "The Quiet Glen" (TPCD 001)
Sliabh na mBan - Frankie Gavin in "Fierce Traditional" (TaraCD 4011)
She Lived beside the Anner - Frankie Gavin in "Fierce Traditional" (TaraCD 4011)
Aghaidh Jhanuis - Oisín Mac Diarmada, Brian Fitzgerald, Micheál Ó Ruanaigh (CICD 144)
hope this helps
Trevor
# Posted on September 14th 2003 by Trevor Jennings
Re: Slow Airs
Try this one. It's excellent: Lament (Real World Records).
See at
http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/B000000HON/102-6406759-3236932?v=glance
# Posted on September 14th 2003 by Toni Ribas
Re: Slow Airs
Point taken, Pied, and of course you can take it far too far...the words to Women of Ireland, for instance, aren't much at all, but as an air it's simply gorgeous. Still, start with the words as a base and go from there, it'll give you a place to start from with the phrasing, and if anyone asks you what the air is about, you'll know..
# Posted on September 15th 2003 by Zina Lee
Re: Slow Airs
Frankie Kennedy's rendition of An Feochan - originally on Horse with a Heart, also on the Altan 1st 10 Years & Best of Altan albums.
# Posted on September 15th 2003 by pm
Re: Slow Airs
wow!!! That's one of my faves also, that Tommy Peoples' An Feochan. A few years (1998) I played it solo as a lament (as *my* choice - I rebelled against what was in the script!... but they acquiesced to my fit of pique) at an Irish musical commemorative theatre production, here in London, about the failed 1798 uprising.
It appears simple but isn't really. It's very sparse, contemplative, haunting and sad. It was appropriate for that occassion, ie the aftermath of the rebellion, in which 100,000 people lost their lives (whatever proportion of the Irish population that was then.) And I think the audience liked it.
Danny.
# Posted on September 15th 2003 by Rudall the time
Re: Slow Airs
Nice recommendations above. I'm partial to a few more:
Anything by Seamus Ennis, particularly the archival recordings on "The Return from Fingal," remastered by Harry Bradshaw. Seamus is a strong influence on Liam O Flynn and Tim Britton, among other. All on Seamus's C Coyne set.
Mick O Brien, particularly his "May Morning Dew." Some at concert pitch, some flat-pitch.
Tim Britton on the Chulrua first disc. Beautiful air playing in the Ennis style.
Brian MacNamara, "The Piper's Chair." Nice low-pitch playing.
Curiously enough, Tony Mac Mahon (who would be the first to say that "there are not enough bog holes in Ireland to hold all the accordions in traditional music), who is a great player of airs, tutored by Ennis. There are slow airs on each of his discs, and the most recent solo, "Mac Mahon from Clare," has no less than five.
chris smith
# Posted on September 15th 2003 by coyotebanjo
Re: Slow Airs
"The leaving of Limerick" (Irish title something like "Marvna Limini") - which is played by Martin Hayes on a very early CD or audiotape of his - is beautiful, and has an unusual high part. So is (again, apologies for the spelling) "Sliabh Gael Gua", of which a modern version is sung in Irish I THINK on an early Solas albumn.
Jane R
# Posted on September 15th 2003 by LW
Re: Slow Airs
No matter what instrument you play, it seems the key is to sing it in your head. I've been plowing through the Highland Fiddle tunes books (both volumes) and am amazed at the slow marches - retreats and the airs of Neil Gow and Abraham MacIntosh (among others). If you can't hear a channel singer doing the pieces - think the song as if your instrument is the voice. I play mostly a mandola (CGDa) or standard mandolin and the difference in the texture and expression is remarkable.
# Posted on September 16th 2003 by 2situla
Re: Slow Airs
Check out some of the pipers / whistle players like Davy Spillane and Declan Masterson, also Na Connerys have a couple of slow airs on their album 'The Session'. There are many Manx slow airs which are fairly simple but allow for plenty of personal interpretation and variation. Email me I can point you in the right direction.
# Posted on September 16th 2003 by jkneale
Re: Slow Airs
I know someone transribed and posted Tommy Peoples' "An Feochan" in Richard Moon's tune database. I think his or her enthusiasm and effort should be rewarded.
I love Seamus Egan's flute playing of "Dark Slender Boy" on his "A Week in January." It's a great track and you shouldn't miss it.
My favourite slow airs/ waltz are:
Mist Covered Mountain: http://thesession.org/tunes/display.php/470
Farewell to Glasgow: http://thesession.org/tunes/display.php/1415
Song of the Kelpie: http://thesession.org/tunes/display.php/1589
(First two are from Scotland, and the last one from Isle of Mann.)
# Posted on September 17th 2003 by slainte
Re: Slow Airs
The book "Move Your Fingers - The Life and Music of Chris Langan" is a thoughtful and detailed work, containing diligently transcribed versions of Chris' settings--including a significant number of slow airs--, and lots of biographical stuff too. Anyone familiar with Toronto's Irish music scene would point to Chris (who died in 1992) as its principle proponent and inspiration, and several of the best players in town were Chris' students.
The book is available from Cranford Publications in Cape Breton, http://www.cranfordpub.com/prices_terms.htm
I have no affiliation with the company, but I'm a very happy owner of a copy of the book.
---Michael B.
# Posted on September 18th 2003 by MichaelBolton
Re: Slow Airs
Was Chris Langan related in any way to Tim or Jesse? Just curious.
# Posted on September 18th 2003 by Zina Lee
Re: Slow Airs
Just wondering if anyone could tell me if there is a recording of the air Eire. Give us a comment and it would be appreciated. The first line of the air is;
GAB GEFG AB D ABDE DBA ABC E
# Posted on July 15th 2009 by mh67